Dredge discharge conduit



Sept. 27,1932. c. HfcoLroN 1,880,073

DREDGE DISCHARGE CONDUIT Filed Dec`. 23.N1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 OOO Sept. 27, 1932. c. H. coLToN DREDGE DISCHARGE CONDUIT Filed Dec. 23, 1951' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 27, 1932 riijlw ori-ica cnnnnns n. coLToN, or cnIcAGo, ILLINoIs, AssreNoR To GREAT LAKES nennen a DOCK COMPANY, oF cHIoAGo, ILLINOIS, A conronA'rroN or vNnvv JERSEY DREDG-E DISCHARGE CONDUIT Application filed. December 23, 1931. Serial No. 582,798.

This invention relates to improvements in dredge discharge conduit and its purpose is to provide means by -which the location and character of the ldischarge of pipe lines from dredges may be regulated and controlled. it is common practice to employ pipe lines of varying lengths leading from dredges for conveying sand or other sediment held in suspension in water which is pumped from the bottom of a river, lake or harbor and de posited at the end of the pipe line for the purpose of filling in a portion of a basin or river bed and thereby extending the shore line. When the material is discharged from the pipe line leading from the dredge, the .sand or other sediment gradually accumulates and the water with which it was inter.- mingled during the dredging and conveying process7 runs ofi. Heretofore7 such pipe lines vfrom dredges have not been provided with adequate or efficient means for effecting the discharge from the pipe lines at various points along their length and the means for effecting discharge at the end of the pipe y line has produced undesirable results in that the discharge current ordinarily tends to eircavate a large hole at the mouth of the pipe, making it difficult to move the mouth of the pipe to a new location and leaving a depres= sion which must be filled up by hand labor after the 'dredging operation is completed. rThe principal object of the present invention is to provide a dredge discharge conduit or pipe made up of one or more sections provided with improvedV openings in their sides so that a portion of the stream passing through the conduit may be discharged at any desired point along the length of the conduit leading from the dredge. Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved dredge discharge conduit'made up of one or more sections provided with improved trap doors capable of deiiecting portions of the current passing through the c0nduit laterallyv through discharge openings, while permitting the remainder of the current to pass along to the end of the conduit. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved dredge discharge conduit provided with a lateral opening having a de flecting member extending. inwardlyl therefrom to intercept and deflecta portion of the current passing through the conduit. A fur ther object of the invention is to provide an improved diffuser or discharge nozzle for use' fully hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated, In the drawings,-

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a por? tion of the dredge discharge conduit mounted on the usual stilts or horses and provided with theimprovements of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a transverse section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the conduit illustrated in Fig. l, including the discharge end thereof;

Fig. 4 shows a side elevation of the portion of the discharge conduit illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section through the nozzle section or diffuser taken on the lines 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the nozzle section or diEuser taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is atransverse section through the nozzle section or diffuser taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 shows a side elevation of one of the trap doors mounted in the wall of the discharge conduit;

Fig. 9 shows a longitudinal section taken 011 the line 9-9 of Fig. 8; and

' earth or other support and the upwardly diverging arms thereofs'erve to support theV conduitvl so that it may have the desired elevation for conveying the more or lessfiuid contents thereof to the place of discharge. The ends of the conduit sections have rings 21 welded thereon and the end of'one section is adapted to fit within the ring of the next adjacent section so that they have a slight telescoping. engagement with each other while at the same time maintaining a tight joint. The ends of the `conduit sections are clamped together by fastening means comprising lugs 22 which are welded onto the ends of one section and connected by chains 23 with other lugs 24 which are welded upon the end of the next adjacent'y section. Each chain 23 is preferably connected to a bolt 25Y which extends through ari-aperture in the lug 24 and is 'engaged on its threaded endv by a nut 26 so that, upon tightening these nuts, the chains 23 are 'drawn taut and the contacting ends of two adjacent conduit sections are firmly clamped together. This method of fastening is employed for uniting the adjacent sections 15a and also for the purpose of connecting the last section 15a with vthe diffnser or nozzle section 15b.

The conduit VsectionsV are preferably made of steel tubing adapted to withstand the abrasive effects of the materials being conveyed therethrough and the end section'or nozzle 15b is open at its outer end as shown at 29 so that a considerable portion of the materials conveyed through the lconduit is discharged at this point. `In order to minimize the discharge at the end of the conduit and to effect a more or less general diffusion of the materials-conveyed at the end ofk the conduit, the end or nozzle section 15b isVY of the conduit is approached. The openingsv and vanes are also preferably distributed, as shown 1n the drawings, so that, toward the inner end of the nozzle section, the openings are located chiefly or entirely on the upper side of the conduit, with a gradual extension of the openings toward the lower side of the conduit as the discharge opening 29 is approached. The vanes 31 are inclined inwardly toward the axis of the conduit and away from the discharge opening 29 so that they form inclined deflecting members adapted tointercept and deflect outwardlyporcharge of such materials fromthe pipe lines of dredges'. The vanes 31 are curved in transverse cross section to correspond with the curvature of the conduit from which they have beenV cut, and the thickness and stiness of the wall of the conduit is such that thejoint between each vane and the conduit along a line 32 is sutiicient to hold the vane in the desired position notwithstanding the impact of the curre-nt passing through .the conduit. Other desired arrangements of the openings 30 may be employed, but the openings may preferably'be distributed so that the discharge takes place largely from the upper and lateral sides of the conduit in order to decrease the eroding effect of the discharge upon the underlying` earth. Y

In order to effect some discharge of material at various points along the' length of the conduit 15 and through the walls of the -sections 15a thereof, the sections 15a are provided with lateral discharge openings 34' which may be wholly'or partially closed by trap doors 35 mounted in frames or supporting platesB which are bolted or otherwise secured to the Walls of the conduit sections, preferably on the lateral sides thereof, as the apparatus is shown in Figql, so that the discharge through these openings takes place laterally from the conduit, rather than downwardly. The plates 36 have a transverse curvature corresponding to that of the outer surface of the conduit, as shown in Fig. 10, and each plate or frame is provided with an inwardly extending boss or iange 36a around the opening 34 therein, to lit within the larg,- er rectangular opening 37 which is cut in the wall of the conduit. place, the plate or frame 36 is secured to the conduit by a series of bolts or rivets 38. The

opening 34 may be normally closed by the trap door 35 which is in the form of a plate having a slight transverse curvature to cor-V `When thus seated in j inner surface kof the '.conduit.

respond with that of the'conduit and adapted to fit within the openings 84 in such a manner th at when it is closed, Vthe inner surface thereof lies substantially flush with the At one end, each door 35 is provided with an upwardly or outwardly extending transverse boss 39 having a pin 40 passing therethrough and pivotally engaging the ears 41 which are formed integrally with and arranged to eX- tend outwardly from the plate or frame 36.

Each trap door 35 is so mounted that it is adapted to swing downwardly or inwardly toward the axis of the conduit to assume a position inclined away from the discharge end of the conduit, so that it is adapted to intercept and deflect outwardly a portion of the current passing through the conduit. For this purpose the inner surface of the door is tapered or curved outwardly at one end as shown at 35aL and the adjacent transverse edge of the opening 34 is similarly inclined or beveled as shown at 361 so that this swinging movement may be permitted while at the same time securing a substantially tight closure when the door is in a closed position. Each door 35 is adapted to be held in the desired inclined position with respect to the wall of the conduit by means of a link 44 which is pivotally connected at its inner end to a. pair of ears 45 extending outwardly from the surface of the door 35 to receive the end of the link between them. A pivotal connection between the ears and the link is established by means of a rivet 46. The link cX- tends outwardly from the door 35 and passes between a pair of arms or ears 47 which are formed integrally with the plate 36 and which extend outwardly and inwardly over the opening 34. The outer ends of these ears are provided with apertures 48 and the. link 44 is provided throughout its length with a series of spaced apertures 49, any one of which may be caused to register with the apertures 48 so that a pin 50 may be passed through the aligning apertures to hold the link 44 in adjusting position. The pin 50 is preferably carried at the. end of a chain 51 which is welded to the plate or frame 36 as shown at 52. By the use of the detachable pin 50, the edective length of the link 44 may be varied to secure the desired inclination of the door 35 carried by any frame 36. This adjustment permits the effective opening of any frame 36 to be varied in order to secure the desired degree. of discharge at any point along t-he length of the conduit. In the accompanying drawings7 two frames 36 and two corresponding discharge openings 34 are shown along the side of each conduit to discharge in a lateral or horizontal direction7 but any other desired arrangement of the discharge openings may be employed and their number may be varied as desired to suit the requirements of the particular job being done.

An important feature of this improvement is that it may be' applied to any conduit section very readily by cutting a hole in the `conduit and then applying the frame 36 by means of bolts or ,the like. By distributing the trap doors along a considerable length of the dis- Although one form of the invention, in-

cluding one form of trap door and one form of diffuser or discharge nozzley has been shown or described by way of illustration, it will be understood that the invention may be constructed. in various other embodiments within the scope of the. appended claims.

I claim: y

l. A dredge discharge conduit provided at its discharge extremity with a nozzle sect-ion having a plurality of closely spaced openings in its annular wall to cause the contents of the conduit to be discharged in a spray over a relatively large area.

2. A dredge discharge conduit having a discharge opening in its lateral side and a deflecting vane extendintY inwardly from wsaid opening.

3. A dredge discharge conduit having a discharge opening in its lateral side, a deflecting vane extendin` inwardly from said opening, and means for changing the inclination of said vane.

4. A dredge discharge conduit having an opening in the side thereof, and a vane inclined inwardly from one edge of said open* ing toward the current passing through said conduit. Y

5. A dredge discharge conduit having an .opening in the side thereof, and a deflecting vane having one edge thereof attached to said conduit at the side of said opening nearerthe discharge end of said conduit and inclined inwardly toward the current passing there through. Y

6. A dredge discharge conduit provided at its discharge extremity with a nozzle section having a plurality of openingsdistributed over the lateral sides and top portion thereof whereby the contents of the conduitare discharged upwardly and laterally at the end of the conduit.

7. A dredge discharge lconduit having a plurality of openingsin the wall thereof adjacent its discharge end, said openings increasing in number as the end of the conduit is approached.

8. A dredge discharge conduit having plurality of openings in the wall thereof adjacent its discharge end, said openings ino in the wall thereof.y a frame securedaround 45 in closed position and for adjusting said gate creasing in number as the end of the conduit of said openings to deflect' the contents of is approached, and vanes inclined inwardly said conduit through lsaid openings.

from said'openings and away from the dis- In testimony whereof, I have subscribed charge end of the conduit. my name.

f 9. A dredge discharge conduit having a Y l CHARLES H- COLTON- 70 terminal section provided with an opening in its lateral wall formed by cutting out a por- Y v Y tion ofthe metal along three rightangular w sides and then bending the intervening metal inwardly to form an inclined vane directed 4 75 away from the discharge end of the conduit. 10. A dredge discharge conduit comprising a terminal section open at its discharge end and having a plurality of dilfusing openings p in the wall thereof with vanes inclined in- Y f 89 wardly from said openings at the edges thereo f adjacent the mouth of the conduit.

11. A dredge discharge conduit comprising u a pipe section having an opening in the side Y Y Y thereof, and a gate hinged at one edge of Y 85 said opening and inclined inwardly therefrom to deflect the contents of said conduit outwardly through said opening. t 12. A dredge discharge conduit comprising a pipe section having an opening in its side,

a gate hinged along that edge of said opening which is nearer the discharge end of said section, and means for adjusting the inclination of said gate and securing it in adjusted position.

` 13. A dredge discharge conduit comprising a pipe section having an opening in the wall thereof, a gate hinged at one edge of said opening. a perforated link connected to said Y gate, and means cooperating with the perforations in said'link for securing said gate in adjusted position. l Y

14. The combination in a vdredge discharge conduit of a pipe section having an opening said opening. lugs projecting from said frame. a gate pivoted between said lugs and adapted normally to close said opening, and means including a link for securing said gate 11G to the desired open position inclined inwardly from thel wall of said conduit.

15. The combination in a dredge discharge conduit of a pipe section having an opening Y i1" in the wall thereof. a frame detachably secured to said conduit and having an opening therethrough with a liange extending inwardlv around said opening to engage the walls of said first named opening in said conduit` 12C a gate mounted within the opening in said frame, and adjustable means for securing said gate in position inclined inwardly from the wall of said conduit to deflect outwardly W 30 a portion of the contents passing through Vsaid conduit. i 16. A dredge discharge conduit provided at its discharge extremity with a plurality of closely spaced openings in its annular wall,

and vanesextending inwardly from the edges 

